HALIBUT FISHING GROUNDS OF THE FACIFIC COAST. 21 



that fish are more or less abundant. This ground woukl be a most 

 excellent place to operate with cod trawls. A vessel fitted with 

 trawls would have little difficulty here in securing a trip in one-half 

 of the time she would need if hand lines were used. 



This position was on the edge of the bank, less than 3 miles from 

 the 100-fathom curve, and about 7 miles from where the water sud- 

 denly deepens to 211 fathoms, soft, muddy bottom. 



The next trial was made in 64 fathoms, rocky bottom, latitude 

 o4° 08' 30" N., longitude 1G2° 11' 20" ^Y., Lookout Point, Canton 

 Island, bearing NW. J W. 16 miles distant. Two halibut w^eighing 

 7 and 9 pounds, respectively, and 2 red rockfish composed the catch. 



From this position the ship steamed east 2 miles and set one skate 

 of trawl, in 45 fathoms of water, roclry bottom. On hauling the 

 trawl it was found that the anchor was caught under a rock, and in 

 trying to clear it the buoy line chafed off, causing the loss of the 

 gear. The trawl having been baited with fresh octopus good results 

 were expected, and a comparison was to be made between salt and 

 fresh bait. This position was also close to the 100-fathom curve 

 and 4 miles from a depth of 435 fathoms marked on the chart. 



At 6 p. m, another trial was made on rocky bottom in 47 fathoms, 

 a distance of 34 miles from the previous trial, Pinnacle Rock bearing 

 NW. 1 W., distance 17 miles, or latitude 54° 31' N., longitude 161° 

 33' W. At this station 2 halibut, the combined weight amounting 

 to 15 pounds, 8 cod, and 9 sculpins were caught, a much smaller 

 catch than was expected, the position being on the western edge of the 

 Shumagin Island ground, where large numbers of cod are annually 

 taken. If a cod trawl had been set here it is very probable that a 

 much larger catch of cod would have been taken. 



Un-ga. — A short call was made at Unga, situated on Unga Island, 

 Sunday morning, July 9, the ship anchoring off the mouth of the 

 harbor about a mile from the village. 



A cod station has been operated here many years by a San Fran- 

 cisco firm. Fishing is carried on in dories, hand-lines only being 

 used, as at Sand Point and Pirate Cove, Popof Island. The supj^ly 

 of fish comes from local grounds in Popof Strait and at various points 

 off the southern and eastern sides of Unga Island. The fishermen 

 leave the station in the morning, weather permitting, and return in 

 the afternoon. The fish are dressed on shore, salted in large vats, 

 and at the end of the season shipped to San Francisco, where they 

 are dried and prepared in various styles for the market. 



From the fishermen on shore we were informed that an attempt at 

 one time had been made to introduce cod trawls, but they j^roved 

 unsuccessful. In what manner they were a failure we were unable 

 to learn. It is very probable that fishermen were not familiar with 

 this form of apparatus and in consequence could not operate it. 



